Electrical gremlins

Matt101 · Apr 26, 2013

Hi guys.

Wonder if any of you have come across this issue.

I went to adjust my screen with the bar control. This resulted in me losing headlights, indicators on the front came on full time and my sidelights became indicators. As long as I leave the bar button alone then no issues. I've checked multi plugs and they're not too bad but its just strange that so much is being affected by the one switch.

Cheers

Matt

RossKean · Apr 26, 2013

I was going to say ground "spiders" and then I saw it was a Gen I, not Gen II (assuming your profile is up-to-date). Good luck.

ionbeam · Apr 26, 2013

The eleven wire connector -- Left Handlebar Switch Connector has all those wires in common. If the problem were too much current being drawn I would expect fuses to blow. A bad ground could cause these problems.

First inspect the condition of the connector. If the connector is clean and looks good you need to measure the voltages on the Red/Yellow wire and the solid Black wire in this connector as you toggle the windshield switch. The Red/Yellow wire should always be close to battery voltage and the Black wire should always be <0.20 volts.

Have you done any work to your bike very recently?

Fred W · Apr 26, 2013

Actually, I think it is the other big multipin connector (10 pins, annotated "B" in the wiring diagrams) that the common ground wire for all of these functions goes through to get to the chassis ground.

ionbeam · Apr 26, 2013

Connector 44 is the one for the handlebar switch gear where the problem seems to start. Main harness/sub-harness connector B is also associated. If there is a problem found at 44 the next step would lead to connector B. I hoped that it would be easier to follow the handlebar harness than go on a mission of discovery looking for connector B. Where you start is personal style

. I wanted to be sure that corrosion wasn't limiting power at the Red/Yellow wire and then make that same check for ground and both wires are in the same connector. One way is a win, the other way is a win and both may take the same number of steps.

Once Fred posts a picture of a Gen I that is anointed to show the locations and numbering of all the connectors it will be much easier to troubleshoot problems.